NY Jets Draft: Final top-100 big board for the 2021 NFL Draft

The 2021 NFL Draft is finally upon us. For a team like the NY Jets that possesses more draft capital than all but one other NFL team, the three-night event promises to be an exciting one at that.

General manager Joe Douglas will have his hands full as he attempts to maximize the 10 picks the Jets have to make this weekend. With two first-round picks and five inside the top-90, the draft capital is certainly there to do some serious damage.

Now, the Jets just have to hit on their picks. Easier said than done.

Every team has its own interpretation of the top prospects in the class. The same remains true for each individual person.

One person’s QB1 could be another’s QB4 or QB5. Someone might have a player as a top-10 prospect in the class, while someone else might not even consider them a first-rounder.

Thus is life in the imperfect science that is prospect evaluation. The general consensus is that there is no consensus. The NFL Draft is a crapshoot, and it always will be.

That said, perhaps that statement is a little misleading. It overlooks the time and effort that goes into crafting a big board and analyzing hours of tape to determine which prospects are best.

Evaluation isn’t just luck. The draft isn’t as simple as pulling names out of a hat and hoping they hit. Teams will get things wrong, but their likelihood of success is higher than sheer random chance.

With that being said, let’s take a look at the 100 prospects that I feel are the best in this class. Let the disagreements begin.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 1 – 10

1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson

2. Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

3. Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

4. Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

5. Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

6. Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

7. Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

8. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

9. Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina

10. Alijah Vera-Tucker, iOL, USC

Three quarterbacks make the top-five here, and the No. 1 player shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Kyle Pitts and Penei Sewell come in at two and three respectively given their All-Pro upside and high floors.

Zach Wilson and Justin Fields are both excellent QB prospects who are neck-and-neck in my mind. Slight (and I mean very slight) nod to Wilson because I feel he has a better chance to overcome his flaws than Fields does.

That’s an over-simplification, of course, but it’s the best we’re going to do with limited characters.

Ja’Marr Chase and Jaylen Waddle crack the top-10 as top-tier wide receiver prospects who project as perennial Pro Bowlers at the next level.

Some might be surprised by No. 9 and 10. I have Jaycee Horn slightly higher than Patrick Surtain II (more on him in a moment) and Alijah Vera-Tucker surprisingly cracks the top-10 as my favorite interior offensive line prospect.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 11 – 20

11. Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

12. DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

13. Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

14. Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

15. Azeez Ojulari, EDGE, Georgia

16. Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

17. Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern

18. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

19. Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami

20. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

Some might have Surtain, DeVonta Smith, and Trey Lance in their top-10, but they fall just outside for me. Lance has elite upside, but with such a small sample size, the margin for error is large. This pushes him down the board.

I’m higher on Teven Jenkins than a lot of people, but he’s a scheme-versatile prospect who should find success with any team. He’s going to be a good pro.

Azeez Ojulari is my top EDGE, but in terms of true talent, I’d probably throw Jaelan Phillips ahead of him. Phillips still cracks the top-20 even despite his injury concerns. He’s just that good of a football player.

Some will also disagree with having Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah over Micah Parsons. I like Parsons and think he’s a very good prospect, but he leans too heavily on his athletic traits and there are legitimate character concerns that push him down the board.

If Owusu-Koramoah lands in the right scheme with a defensive coordinator that could maximize his uniqueness as a prospect, he could end up being a top-five player in this class.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 21 – 30

21. Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss

22. Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

23. Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

24. Creed Humphrey, iOL, Oklahoma

25. Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina

26. Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota

27. Landon Dickerson, iOL, Alabama

28. Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU

29. Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

30. Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida

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A few surprises in this range, including Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey and North Carolina running back Javonte Williams. Both are widely seen as second-round prospects, but I have them as the second-best players at their respective positions (iOL and RB).

Humphrey isn’t an elite run-blocker, but his experience and refinement in pass protection mean that he should be, at least, a rock-solid starter for some team. As for Williams, he has all the makings of a three-down runner at the next level.

Elijah Moore’s slot/outside versatility helps him climb up my board and two other receivers, Rashod Bateman and Kadarius Toney, also make an appearance. Five of the top-30 players on my board are wide receivers.

Trevon Moehrig is my top safety coming in at No. 28. His range and coverage ability help him stand out in a poor safety class.

Caleb Farley’s upside is evident, but his medicals are a serious concern. Without access to his medical records, I have to push him down the board. Plus, on the field, I don’t think he’s as slam-dunk of a prospect as someone like Jaelan Phillips.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 31 – 40

31. Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama

32. Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

33. Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU

34. Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame

35. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

36. Wyatt Davis, iOL, Ohio State

37. Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State

38. Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

39. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

40. Alex Leatherwood, iOL, Alabama

Mac Jones is the most notable prospect in this group. The trouble with his evaluation is that his margin for error is much slimmer than the other top quarterbacks.

His lack of athleticism means that if your evaluation of him as a passer is off, then there’s no chance of reclamation. He doesn’t have mobility to fall back on. Plus, I just don’t see the upside with Jones.

I’m also significantly lower on Travis Etienne than a lot of others are. His elusiveness and dynamic abilities are evident, but I have concerns about his vision at the next level. His bust chance is higher than both Najee Harris and Javonte Williams.

I’m probably higher on Wyatt Davis than most. His knee issues will likely be a cause of concern for some teams, but on the field, he’s a well-rounded, rock-solid guard prospect.

Notre Dame’s Liam Eichenberg might be one of the more overlooked offensive line prospects in this class. He has a good chance at being a long-term starting tackle for any team he lands with.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 41 – 50

41. Elijah Molden, CB, Washington

42. Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis

43. Jabril Cox, LB, LSU

44. Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame

45. Payton Turner, EDGE, Houston

46. Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington

47. Jalen Mayfield, iOL, Michigan

48. Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State

49. Richie Grant, S, UCF

50. Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota State

Kenneth Gainwell is one of my favorite prospects in this class, so it’s no surprise to see him land as high as he does — just three spots after Etienne, mind you. He’s probably never going to be three-down back, but he’d be a perfect fit in an outside-zone run committee.

I’m also a big fan of Tommy Tremble and actually have him as my TE2 behind Kyle Pitts. He was overlooked at Notre Dame, but he has the tools to become a complete tight end at the next level as both a viable receiving threat and excellent blocker.

Joe Tryon and Jayson Oweh are two edge rushers receiving first-round buzz, but I tend to steer clear of athletic freak edge rushers who lack a pass-rush arsenal. Those guys bust a lot more than they hit.

Jabril Cox makes the list as my LB4 and, if he could improve his run defense, has a chance to become one of the more complete linebackers in the NFL. His coverage ability is already superb.

Dillon Radunz is another player who could sneak into first-round consideration. He played left tackle in college, but could be a better fit as a guard in the NFL.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 51 – 60

51. Levi Onwuzurike, DL, Washington

52. Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky

53. Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami

54. Amari Rodgers, WR, Clemson

55. Nick Bolton, LB, Missouri

56. Walker Little, OT, Stanford

57. Carlos Basham Jr., EDGE, Wake Forest

58. Nico Collins, WR, Michigan

59. Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina

60. Joseph Ossai, EDGE, Texas

This interior defensive line class is pretty bad, hence why my DL2 doesn’t come until 51 with Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike. But the athletic upside is there for Onwuzurike to become an impactful three-technique down the line.

Gregory Rousseau is one of the more polarizing prospects in this class. He’s an unrefined, projection-based pass-rusher who lacks elite athletic traits and tested poorly. Not someone I’m willing to bet on as a future star, although the potential is there.

Amari Rodgers is another receiver who’s been overshadowed in such a deep class, but his YAC ability should make him a stud slot target in the NFL. Ditto for Nico Collins who should be a much more productive pro receiver than he was in college.

Stanford’s Walker Little is another player to keep an eye on. At one point, he was a potential future top-five pick, but he’s played in just one game since 2018. If he could stay healthy and return to form, the sky is the limit.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 61 – 70

61. Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia

62. Jevon Holland, S, Oregon

63. Alim McNeill, DL, NC State

64. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Penn State

65. Baron Browning, LB, Ohio State

66. Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue

67. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, USC

68. Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina

69. Aaron Robinson, CB, UCF

70. Cameron McGrone, LB, Michigan

A pair of cornerbacks fall in this range in Eric Stokes and Aaron Robinson. Stokes possesses the size and speed to be a very good cornerback in the pros, but he must work on his technique and correct some transitional flaws.

As for Robinson, he’s probably a better fit as a slot cornerback in the NFL, but he’s a good athlete and he plays tough which should serve him well.

I’m probably a bit lower on Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth than most, but I still think he has a relatively high floor and should contribute pretty early. His lack of standout traits pushes him down the board below Tommy Tremble for me.

Rondale Moore is an exciting prospect, but there are too many red flags for me to have him ranked higher. On top of the injuries, teams will have to get creative about where to use him and I’m not sold on him being anything more than a gadget player at this stage.

Michael Carter, much like Kenneth Gainwell, is another running back who boasts “standout in a committee” potential. His lack of size will limit him between the tackles, but he’s versatile, agile, and has good vision.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 71 – 80

71. Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse

72. Quinn Meinerz, iOL, Wisconsin-Whitewater

73. Ronnie Perkins, EDGE, Oklahoma

74. Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State

75. Pete Werner, LB, Ohio State

76. Jamar Johnson, S, Indiana

77. Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse

78. Kendrick Green, iOL, Illinois

79. Brady Christensen, OT, BYU

80. Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota State

Syracuse’s Ifeatu Melifonwu has the size and speed that scouts dream of, but he relies far too much on his physical traits right now. He’s a classic boom-or-bust prospect, but not someone I’d consider until Round 3.

Quinn Meinerz will face a steep increase in level of competition in the NFL, but his blend of power, technique, and athleticism should provide a solid foundation for that transition.

Most people aren’t talking about him, but Jamar Johnson has the potential to be a Day 2 or 3 steal in this draft. It’s a weak safety class, but Johnson’s range and awareness give him upside as a ball hawk at the next level. He could be a long-term starter.

I’m also a fan of Illinois offensive lineman Kendrick Green whose athletic traits make him an excellent fit for a zone-blocking scheme as either a center or guard.

Brady Christensen is a fantastic pass blocker and he has the tools to develop into a very solid run blocker too. His age (he turns 25 in September) will put some people off, but on the field, he’s one of the better tackles in a very strong offensive line class.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 81 – 90

81. Josh Myers, iOL, Ohio State

82. Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami

83. Tommy Togiai, DL, Ohio State

84. Paulson Adebo, CB, Stanford

85. Kellen Mond, QB, Texas A&M

86. Patrick Jones II, EDGE, Pittsburgh

87. Rashad Weaver, EDGE, Pittsburgh

88. Trey Sermon, RB, Ohio State

89. Milton Williams, DL, Louisiana Tech

90. D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan

Miami’s Brevin Jordan reminds me a little of Irv Smith Jr. coming out of Alabama. He’s athletic, has good ball skills, and projects as a very proficient pass-catching tight end if he could improve as a route-runner.

Our sixth quarterback on the big board lands here in Kellen Mond. Mond is an ideal Day 2 prospect for teams that don’t want to spend a Day 1 pick on a QB. His natural physical/athletic traits make him a perfect developmental quarterback in the mold of someone like Colin Kaepernick.

Two Pittsburgh edge rushers land on this list back-to-back. Jones has prototypical 4-3 defensive end size with the burst and length to develop into a future starter. Weaver, on the other hand, isn’t a great athlete, but he was a productive player in college and makes up for it with refinement.

I’m also a fan of Trey Sermon whose vision and quick-cut ability make him a good fit in an outside-zone scheme (I have a type for mid-round running backs, OK?).

We close out the top-90 with another wide receiver, our 15th to this point, in Western Michigan’s D’Wayne Eskridge who lacks size, but has the speed to be a threat on both offense and special teams.

2021 NFL Draft: Prospects 91 – 100

91. Jackson Carman, iOL, Clemson

92. Marlon Tuipulotu, DL, USC

93. Derrick Barnes, LB, Purdue

94. Kelvin Joseph, CB, Kentucky

95. Quincy Roche, EDGE, Miami

96. Hunter Long, TE, Boston College

97. Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR, Iowa

98. Thomas Graham Jr., CB, Oregon

99. Trey Smith, iOL, Tennessee

100. Ar’Darius Washington, S, TCU

The final-10 kicks off with former Clemson left tackle Jackson Carman. Carman just doesn’t have the lateral mobility to remain at left tackle in the NFL, but a move inside to guard could help him maximize his potential as a powerful run blocker.

I’m probably a bit lower on Kelvin Joseph than most. His vision gives me concerns and his overall lack of ball awareness at the catch point could be a significant downfall.

The athletic traits are obvious, but there are legitimate maturity concerns too that would make me reconsider spending a Day 2 pick on Joseph.

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Iowa’s Ihmir Smith-Marsette cracks the top-100 as the 16th wide receiver on this list. He probably won’t be drafted until Day 3, but he was held back by a poor Iowa passing game and is a candidate to be more productive in the NFL than he was in college.

Tennessee offensive guard Trey Smith is a highly-decorated college lineman who, at one point, was a potential first-round pick. Medicals are a concern and his draft stock has plummeted, but his size and raw power still give him a high ceiling.

And finally, player No. 100 is TCU safety Ar’Darius Washington. Washington’s lack of size (at just 5-foot-8) gives him serious bust potential, but he’s one of the rangiest safeties in this class and his coverage ability should at least allow him to contribute in the nickel.

Top players left out (in no particular order): Tyson Campbell (CB), Deonte Brown (iOL), Jay Tufele (DL), Aaron Banks (iOL), Daviyon Nixon (DL), Davis Mills (QB), James Hudson (OT), Dayo Odeyingbo (EDGE), Stone Forsythe (OT), Hamsah Nasirildeen (S), Tutu Atwell (WR), Chazz Surratt (LB), Robert Rochell (CB), Anthony Schwartz (WR), Robert Hainsey (OG)